Chilly morning temperatures didn’t deter almost 600 participants during Saturday’s 10th annual Blaine Parks and Recreation Department spring egg hunt at Airport Park. Parents and kids began gathering early for the event and were greeted by the Easter bunny as they entered the park. Photo by Tim Hennagir

Nate Monahan, Blaine parks and recreation program supervisor, and members of the Blaine/Anoka County Jaycees gave the Easter bunny a helping hand in placing 6,000 eggs on three different softball fields.

“The Jaycees donated $1,000 to the event and they were nice enough to bring out volunteers, who passed out bags and spread the eggs,” Monahan said.

Kids and parents waited patiently on all three softball infields until an air horn sounded to signal the start of the annual hunt, which featured candy-filled eggs.

Raffle tickets in each bag were redeemed for small stuffed animals as participants gathered under the Airport Park picnic shelter.

Jaycee President Brian Haglund said he and other volunteers arrived around 8:30 a.m. to help Monahan.

“This my the second or third year doing this,” he said. “I love it. It’s great seeing the kids come out and have a good time getting the candy and the eggs.”